SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Walk in the dark

The day had been long. A busier than busy schedule had required flexibility. Despite multiple activities, a list of “must do” special projects and a house full of people coming and going, my wife and I determined to keep our daily commitment to spend time with each other. As multitaskers, we often combined walking and talking. Killing two birds with one stone came natural for us. How else would we have time to sleep?

The sounds of life at home faded as we stepped out for a walk in the dark. It was cooler than usual. Summer was giving way to fall as a gentle breeze reminded us we should have worn jackets.

Things looked different at night. The paths were familiar, but things weren’t quite the same. What would have normally been routine, now required attention. Street lights and illuminated driveways served as guides along well groomed sidewalks. Perhaps it was images such as these that had inspired the Psalmist to write, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

The light unto my path proved critical as just two steps ahead a snake slithered out from the grass and challenged us for passage. We were vulnerable. He was comfortable as darkness often provided cover for his nightly activities. We were visitors on his turf and not on good terms. Someone had to lose.

My instincts were awakened as my adrenalin began to flow. In a matter of seconds I crushed the serpent’s head beneath my heel as his body squirmed and wrapped around my ankle. I was reminded of Genesis 3:14-15, “So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

The experience was creepy. The body of the snake lay motionless as we moved on toward home. Needless to say, there was a little more pep in our step as we worked to bring this adventure to an end.

Just as we had begun to shake the snake from our minds another viper slithered onto our path. Were we under attack? Had word gotten out to everything that crawled on its belly that we had taken out one of their own? Without hesitation I stepped into action as the scenario unfolded once again by the light of moon. Humans two, snakes, zero. It was time to go home.

Like our walk in the dark, life is a journey down a path we often take for granted. We ignore warning signs often illuminated by the light of God’s Word. Before long our path crosses with Satan. We are on his turf and he doesn’t like it. He attacks and by the power of the Spirit we prevail. Just about the time we get comfortable and confident, he strikes again. We must remember, greater is He who is within us than he who is in the world.

Oklahoma Baptists - Sharing life through the Cooperative Program.
The Baptist Messenger website is supported through Oklahoma Baptists' gifts through the Cooperative Program. Find out more about how the Cooperative Program impacts the world for Christ by visiting the CP Home Page.